reflections and connections

A friend of mine shared this picture on Twitter today and it started me thinking about how so many of us look at life. During my day I teach grade one math in the morning and then after lunch I teach grade 10 computers and grade 11 & 12 life transitions. You may be thinking that's two very different age groups to work with, and you are correct. Both groups come with their challenges and rewards and in each group you will find people who "feel the rain" while you will find others who "just get wet". Working with these students keeps you on your toes, the students who embrace life and "roll with the punches" are sometimes easier to teach because of their flexibility. The students who may see the glass as always half empty are a little more challenging to reach. The sad thing is, is that there are many more students in grade one that "feel the rain" than there are in grade 10, 11, and 12. What are we doing to our children to make them feel this way? Is it just a normal part of growing up?

This is also true of a staff, be it teachers or any other profession. There are some teachers that always have a smile on their face and some pep in their step, regardless of what is occuring around them. Then there are other teachers who, from time to time, look like they are carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. I truly believe that the energy we send out is infectious and we have the power to choose how we live each day.

As a leader in my school there are many times when I am frustrated, tired, disappointed, or just plain angry. In these moments I have a choice as to how I will carry myself. I have a choice in how I speak to people, or if I even will speak to people. I can choose to put on a smile and look for the positives or I can don a scowl and curse everything that is going on around me. I owe it to the teachers, students and parents to make sure I remain positive. What I have found helpful is being able to find a quiet spot, identify and acknowledge how I am feeling, and then determine the source of my frustrations. After reflecting on why I feel the way I do I can then move forward, determining steps I can take towards finding solutions. Then I am able to start identifying positives and once again start sending out positive "vibes".

We all get down. We all have moments of frustration and anger. How do you deal with your "low moments"?